Yet again, we have suffered the devastating consequences of average Americans armed with weapons of war.

A seventh person has now died from yesterday's tragedy in a Chicago suburb, with dozens more wounded. On what should have been a day of celebration, community members ran for their lives as a lone shooter on a rooftop decided who would live and who would die.

We deserve better, John.

The Highland Park parade shooting was just one of many mass shootings that took place all across the country on the Fourth of July. According to the Gun Violence Archive, one person died and 18 more were wounded in five other mass shootings in Massachusetts, California, Missouri, Virginia and Illinois. And more than 100 people died from gun violence yesterday with their names and stories never making headlines.

In Washington, we have taken action to pass and implement laws that we know work to prevent gun violence. Last Friday, a law to restrict high-capacity magazines—the weapon of choice for mass shooters—went into effect. The Alliance and our partners worked for the past six years to make this law a reality and it should have been a proud moment for our movement. But this weekend's violence has reminded us how much work there still is to do.

We are more determined than ever. Thanks for fighting alongside us.

– Renée (she/her)